In today’s artist interview & sneak peek we are back with the second half of our visit In The Studio with Susan Irish. Susan is a Charleston SC artist, gallery owner of Fabulon and former teacher. I mention this because she still teaches and has the heart of a teacher! I’m so grateful for the artists who invite us to visit their studio! We can learn so much from each of these visits. Susan is organized in spite of her many medium and interest in using found objects, these photos are not styled so this is typical of what her studio space looks like on an average day.

In The Studio with Susan Irish-Artist Interview & Sneak Peek-Part II (See Part I here)

Do you love or loath laundry? I don’t mind it but I know for so many people Laundry is not about love, at all! That’s why I work with my clients to create a laundry schedule, including what I call Wednesday Whitewash…which simply means I wash my whites on Wednesdays (but you don’t have to)…

In creating a laundry schedule I ask a few questions to help determine what the best household action plan for doing laundry…here are some questions you can use to create your own laundry schedule.

How many household members? How many loads of laundry per person per week do you generate?

How many “able bodied” people do you have do delegate laundry to? Kids age 10+ should start learning to help with laundry, including having a laundry basket in their room, helping to bring laundry to the washer/dryer, helping to sort, fold and put laundry away.

Do you have a cleaning person that helps with laundry? If so, what day do they come and what laundry tasks do they do or could you delegate to them (sheets and towels or more)?

Do you and your kids do sports activities or work that generates extra dirty (stinky:() laundry? If so, how soon after these activities do you need to wash things (to re-use or prevent smells)?

Do you take a lot of things to the dry cleaner? If so, do you have a pick up drop off service or is this something your drycleaner offers?

Do you have a lot of ironing, do you like to iron?

With all this info in your back pocket, calculate how many loads need to be done per week and who will do them. Then, take a look at your weekly schedule and assign laundry tasks by the date to yourself or other household help (kids, spouse, cleaning helpers etc).

I change and wash whites, or linens (towels, sheets and the oddball other white items) on Wednesdays and thus the term Wednesday Whitewash! Maybe doing a couple loads mid weeks and more on the weekends makes sense to you and with your schedule or maybe your weekends are busy with family activities and your better off tackling one load per evening through the week.

Keep Laundry Contained

In my observation, many people do not have laundry baskets, have them where they need them (in the bedroom, bathroom or closet) or seem to use them at all! I find laundry in piles on the floor, draped over furniture, hanging form hooks, light fixtures and everywhere else you can imagine. If you don’t know what’s clean and what’s dirty, you will constantly be re-washing items or at least giving your nose a workout with the sniff test. Keep dirty laundry contained in a basket or bag and use this to take laundry to your laundry area and then sort (or buy bins with sorting compartments if you have room). There are tons of great laundry basket options, like these available…so measure your space and determine what/how many you need and invest!

Minimize Maintenance

When you buy new clothes, think about their laundry requirements.

Sort laundry by color and by weight. I don’t like to wash my husbands heavy duty work pants with my delicate tops or undergarments (which should be in a bag). Sort weekly loads by dark/light/white and weight. This helps keep clothes looking newer longer.

Do you love linen but hate ironing? Maybe these things should be kept for less frequent use or sent to the dry cleaner?

Keep it Green Clean

Do you dislike using drycleaners because of the chemicals? If so, look for a green cleaner in your area. While we are talking about green options, look for cleaning products that are phosphate free and use minimal scents and chemicals (though there seem to be more an more products on the market to mask odor-that doesn’t mean it’s really clean!). This might seem obvious but wash things only when needed. If you’ve only worn something for a couple hours, didn’t sweat or spill on it, then wear it again before laundering. This is not only going to save you time, it will keep your clothes looking new longer and will save resources (water power etc).

Consider hanging delicate, knits and lightweight items to dry. I use a collapsible laundry rack to dry about 1/3 to 1/2 of every laundry load, it takes a bit more time to dry but it keeps my clothes fro wearing out as quickly and saves energy.

Any way you schedule it, whether you love or loath laundry, having this household task in perpetual motion will keep you from melting or collapsing under this task mountain!

Center Console- Go Vertical! Group small items in small bags bins and line them up vertically so you do not have to dig to the bottom to find what you need. Keep toiletry items, a note pad, pen, wipes (hand & car), change for meters (in an old Rx bottle), pain reliever, first aid etc.

Glove Compartment-Store extra napkins in a plastic envelope or ziploc to keep tidy. Keep your car manual with insurance card and registration/inspection, a copy of drivers license, and maybe your coupon caddie? Other possibilities if you have room, a lint roller, fold up extra bags.

Tidy Toss-A plastic cereal storage bin with a flip top (with or without a bag) is a great trash “can”. Other options a trash bag (hang from hook on back of passenger side) or place on floor in back.

Kid Tip-keep an empty cleaning bin (like supplies are stored in) in the back seat to hold snacks and drinks and prevent messes-just brilliant!

Constant Clean-Wipe down all surface. Do this while pumping gas or waiting in carpool (safe times when you are not moving). Keep a small duster (fuzzy microfiber or even a paint brush!) for light cleaning in a door pocket or console.

Trunk/hatch back– An elastic trunk net keeps things from sliding out and creates extra vertical storage. Use collapsible fabric bins, either cubes or a hanging sweater “shelf” that expands. These are great to hold items like grocery bags and sport gear. The can be folded up when not in use. Keep a towel or small blanket for warmth, protect seats etc.

Caddie or organizing bin-Keep this in the trunk for other essentials including a tape measure, plastic trash bags, rope/bungees, flash light, tire pressure tool and optional pet supplies.

Safety Kit – Include a multi-knife tool, matches or lighter, thermal blanket, hand/foot warmers, window scraper, flare light, first aid kit, emergency food (bars), water in glass or metal (won’t go bad as quickly). Also keep a life hammer (window break tool) in a door pocket or your center console. This can be mounted with velcro or command tape. Be sure it’s easy to access in case of an flooding-not in trunk!

What did I miss? Everyone’s different, this list covers the basics for In Car Organizing, including safety but you might need other essentials. If you have tips or questions please share them in the comments below!

In today’s artist interview & sneak peek we have a visit In The Studio with Susan Irish. Susan is a Charleston SC artist, gallery owner of Fabulon and former teacher. I mention this because she still teaches and has the heart of a teacher! I’m so grateful for the artists who invite us to visit their studio! We can learn so much from each of these visits. Susan is organized in spite of her many medium and interest in using found objects, these photos are not styled so this is typical of what her studio space looks like on an average day.

In The Studio with Susan Irish-Artist Interview & Sneak Peek-Part I

This is the time of year that I find myself craving the sacred space of home. How about you? More than any other time of year, I’d be just as happy to stay inside, wrapped up with a blanket and a book, knitting and a movie or cooking in my kitchen.

Lets dive into cultivate the practice of creating the sacred space of home.

Each of us needs to define what makes a place home. I invite you to explore all of your senses.

What does home look like? Is it colorful, minimalist, bright and sunny, eclectic, sentimental?

What are the smells of home? Fresh, like baking or cooking, do you use aromatherapy, candles, what scents do you love?

What do you hear? Children playing, birds singing, trains, pets talking, traffic, sirens, the school nearby, filled with music, stop and notice.

What do you taste? Does home mean homecooked meals and nurturing food or are you happy to have coffee and grab something elsewhere.

Each of our senses invite us to explore what makes home meaningful for us.

Through the journey of our senses we come to notice the things, the light, the people, the smells, the memories that we create and evoke when we cultivate home as a sacred space.

When our homes are overly cluttered, overflowing with so much stimulation that we begin to feel crowded out and confused, we need to re-connect with how we want our homes to feel. I invite you to take some time before the holiday season to get clear about what defines the sacred space of home for you. Spend some time clearing out or at least packing away what no longer feels sacred. We can become so busy and overwhelmed with feelings of obligation and guilt that we keep things that no longer serve our lives.

The popular books The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy by Marie Kondo have become quite popular over the last several years. I personally think it is because Marie hit on this idea of sacred space and sacred objects in our home. She invites us to hold and gather our objects to determine if they “Spark Joy”. At the root of what she is cultivating is the process of reconnecting with our life as sacred!

The things we invite into our home and our lives should express who we truly want to be but so often we settle for less.

How sad is that? Perhaps having recently celebrated a birthday I am noticing and being more intentional about how I dress, what I look at in my home, the objects I surround myself with. These objects have meaning, they carry energy and I certainly want to be cultivating a practice of surrounding myself with what “Sparks Joy”, feels sacred, meaningful, has the least impact on our planet…things that are well designed and function beautifully!

What does Creating Sacred Space of Home mean for you?

Take some time to envision and intentionally edit out and create this space for yourself and your family to nurture you in everything you do.

I absolutely love to garden and it brings me so much joy. As we go into the colder seasons my craving for the garden moves towards Indoor Gardening for maintaining well being. Today I’m specifically sharing tips for how indoor gardening can bring a sense of well being into your life. Fresh air, lush greenery, beautiful flowers and hands on interaction with the texture and touch of the plants and soil are just some of why I love to garden and all of this can be done indoor or out.

I spend a bit of time tending towards my indoor garden each fall, bringing plants that have been outdoor for the summer in, pruning, fertilizing and replacing any plants that need it. I “freshen up” my terrarium collection, cleaning the glass and replacing leggy or unwell plants so they can bring me joy all winter long, not to mention fresh air!

It makes me sad there are so many people who don’t “think” they have a green thumb or that they can’t keep a houseplant alive. But there is no mistaking how popular indoor gardening has become again. Have you seen terrariums like the one above lately in magazines, online or in garden centers? Maybe these tips will encourage you to try (or expand) your indoor garden. I wouldn’t consider myself an indoor gardening expert but I know enough to keep some alive better than others. I’ve got a big leaf philodendron that’s over 20 years old! I’d like to share with you some of the reasons for trying indoor gardening.

Plants are natures air filters! The literally clean toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toulene and trichloroethylene (among other toxins) from the air. Certain plants do a great job with certain chemicals but about 1 plant per 100 sq’ has been proven to significantly purify the air.

Expressing personal style through plants and indoor gardening can add so much beauty to really round out your interior rooms.

The act of caring for and nurturing a plant can be a meditative and calming practice.

You are bringing a piece of nature’s beauty (and in some cases bounty) inside where you can appreciate it more often.

What can you grow successfully inside? Start by observing your surroundingsand lifestyle habits since these are the two most important factorsfor plant selection. Determine which direction your house and windows face and have this information available when you go to select plants. Your success will be much enhanced by selecting the correct plant for your conditions.

Some factors to consider are light/exposure (N, S, E or W windows?), humidity (you can always run a humidifier if needed), time required for maintenance needs (watering, pruning, fertilizing, re-potting etc), design style and colors in your home. Armed with this info you will be able to make the best selections for your space. If you have pets, check out the ASPCA list of pet safe plants here. I find that my kitties love and find irresistible anything resembling grass, so pointed narrow leaves are especially attractive to them!

Do your research before you head out to buy anything, check out a variety of reputable local garden centers or floral shops (rather than big box shops) and talk the people who work there. They can usually make excellent suggestions if you know the direction your windows face and the size and space you want to add plants to.

If you travel often and are super busy and have minimal light you will be making much different choices than someone who can spend a bit of time each day (5-10 mins) misting, watering etc.

The little maiden hair fern above will dry out quickly and probably end up making you feel like a failure if you can’t give it daily attention. On the other hand the ZZ Palm or Snake plant below both require low light and very little moisture to thrive. I love the website Gardenista for great images (those below), inspiration and practical advice on the best houseplants for different settings (low light/low/maintenance, non poisonous, you name it!).

The biggest mistakepeople make with houseplants is over watering (I worked in the tropical greenhouse of a local garden center). Let plants dry out completely before watering again deeply (there are some exceptions, like ferns). Potted plants are more quickly depleted of nutrients, so I generally re-pot every 2 years and the potting mix I use has a slow release fertilizer in it, or sprinkle a little slow release once or twice a year (see package for rate of use).

There literally is an indoor plant for just about every situation. Again though taking the specific factors of your situation into account will lead you to much more success. It’s also important to buy plants from reputable sources that are knowledgeable about both the plants they stock and helping you decide what’s best for your situation. A good source will help you select things given the information you provide and should tell you the proper name (both common and botanical), maintenance requirements and any other information you might need. Ask questions and do a little homework before you head out shopping so you can make the best choice for yourself. Hopefully the plants that you live with will bring you joy, a sense of calm and beauty and even a bit of cleaner air to breath.

Do you have an indoor garden? Are you trying something new or have you had some complete failures (we all have!)? I’d love to hear about your indoor gardening experiences.

In today’s artist interview & sneak peek we return to In the Studio with Don Marlowe. Don was my boss and mentor in my career as a textile and carpet designer. The world is small and I discovered that he lived in the same town as a client I had traveled to work with, and so Don agreed to my request to come see his art and working studio in his home! I’m so grateful for the artists who invite us to visit their studios! We can each learn from these visits as we see how others have created systems and set up their creative spaces to support their creative cycles. Don was gracious to let me visit him totally spur of the moment and these photos are not styled so this is typical of what his studio space looks like on an average day.

In The Studio with Don Marlowe-Artist Interview & Sneak Peek-Part II (see Part I here)

In the final installment of October’s Outta Sight Storage, I want to share some of my go to attic storage inspiration. This is just in time for you to get your storage organized for the holidays! Fall is the perfect time to work on your attic storage, once temperatures are cooler but not too cold. Spring is also a good time if you don’t get to it now.

Simple fixes that will make your attic storage easier to access and use.

Safety

Flooring

Shelves

Bins

Labels

Hanging storage

Start with making your attic/stair’s easy to access and safe. Check the cables, railing and steps for safety a couple times a year and have them maintained or replaced as needed. There are some really great new stair options out there, see more here.

Next, think about the safety of what you are storing. If your attic is not climate controlled, whatever you store there will be subject to fluctuating temperatures and humidity. This can be especially damaging to wood and paper products. The attic is not the best space for books, photo’s and valuable heirloom furniture. You also may not want to store clothing long term, but seasonal storage in bins or a cedar chest should be okay.

The attic should be totally fine for extra household items including bulky or less frequently used kitchen items, travel gear (suitcases etc) and all your holiday decorations (except candles-I recommend storing ALL candles together). Of course, do not store flammable items in the attic and keep things clear of HVAC and other utilities (per instructions of the manufacturer). I’ll share more next month on specific holiday decor storage ideas.

Put down some sort of flooring! Don’t straddle the rafters, step through drywall or get fiberglass all over yourself! There are a lot of options, from plywood to these really great (reusable) Lock-N-Rollin floors…so easy to install!

Use or install shelving of some sort. It’s fine to stack bin’s if you only have a few but if you have a lot to store, shelves (either pre-made or custom built) will make it super easy to pull things in and out.

When possible, use more small bins to make it easier to bring things up and down. Make sure you know how large your opening is so you know what size storage will fit. I see so many people who try to put large bins in the attic, this usually causes accessibility challenges. Store things together by season and category (holidays etc).

Add labels to bins and shelves as needed.

Hang things in unusual or tight spots. This is a clever fold down “secret” storage spot but you can also just add hooks and hang oddly shaped, light weight items directly from rafters.

The space below is “finished” attic space but no less challenging due to the unusual shape. We used hooks to hang an assortment of sport gear on the wall so that the back of the space could still be accessible (with shelves added for additional storage).

With a bit of planning and elbow grease you can maximize your attic storage to suite a variety of household needs. If your project is out of your control, let me know how I can help!

In today’s artist interview & sneak peek we visit In The Studio with Don Marlowe. This wonderful man was my boss and a mentor to me in my career as a textile and carpet designer. The world is small and I discovered that he lived in the same town as a client I had traveled to work with, and so Don agreed to my request to come see his art and working studio in his home! I’m so grateful for the artists who invite us to visit their studios! We can each learn from these visits as we see how others have created systems and set up their creative spaces to support their creative cycles. Don was gracious to let me visit him totally spur of the moment and these photos are not styled so this is typical of what his studio space looks like on an average day.

In The Studio with Don Marlowe-Artist Interview & Sneak Peek-Part I

Since I am sharing my thoughts and tips this month on “Out of Sight Storage”, nothing quite lives up to this description like a Storage unit. You might have asked yourself, is there ever a good excuse for using storage units? How can you prevent your storage unit from being a large junk pile? Below I share “Good excuses” for using storage units.

More of these storage facilities seem to be popping up all the time and with the popularity of shows like “Storage Wars“, our culture seems to have accepted that using storage units is “Normal”. But should they be? I can’t provide the right answer for every situation but I’d love to share some experiences where I think having some type of storage unit has been useful and other times when it seems like a big $ pit.

Here are the 7 top ‘Good Excuses’ for using Storage Units.

Storing valuable personal property that might not be protected at home. Example might include large collections of climate sensitive items or expensive vehicles that might be more safe in climate control.

Home remodeling. It’s often necessary to place items into storage when you are remodeling or building. In this case, make items you might need easy to access. Building and remodeling can take longer than expected so plan ahead (seasonal wardrobe switch, paperwork etc).

Collections or work related archives that you need to hold onto for legal reasons but do not have space for at your home or small business. Examples might include artwork, medical files/records or other paperwork that is taking up more valuable space elsewhere.

Temporary storage of items when moving. This can be especially helpful if items are being moved to multiple locations and will help make moving day easier when you can specify what comes from storage vs. other locations.

Downsizing and times of indecision or stress. I share this option with a word of extreme caution. Often people fall into the forever storage situation triggered by a move or downsizing and they just never get back to sorting through things. If you must downsize and place items to be sorted in storage, do so with the minimum space needed and a plan to sort through items on a specific timeline (say one year max?).

Estate sales and family redistribution. There are times that a storage unit can be helpful in sorting through and liquidating an estate. Sometimes family doesn’t live nearby and the main property can no longer be used for storage. It’s best to know specifically what contents are going into storage, inventoried to be distributed to specific family members and given a specific deadline for emptying. Decide ahead if the family estate will pay for this or family members will split the cost and be clear in your communication about expectations.

Insurance claim issues. There is sometimes damage to a house (see remodel/build above) and household contents must be stored and or inventoried for insurance purposes. This is not that common but I have seen and worked with clients in this situation.

If you’re not sure if storage off site is the right choice, consider the cost per square foot of the storage unit or keeping things in place. You may also want to consider what you will do with the free space you gain in your home or office. What is the value of that space to you, fiscally, creatively, emotionally?

Once you have identified why and what you need to be using a storage unit, create an inventory and system for efficient storage. This will help you gain access to what you need quickly and efficiently. If you are storing items for a business, create a file-inventory index based on the type of storage you will use. If you will store files in bankers boxes, decide on a labeling system and label boxes and shelves so that you can identify and replace things easily. Larger items like artwork or collectibles can be labeled similarly.

Create an easy-to-access storage system by bringing in easy to assemble shelves and take advantage of the vertical space and tall ceilings in most storage units. Be sure you are storing anything sensitive in a climate controlled environment and that you have sufficient insurance and a clear plan to communicate and make regular payments to the storage facility (so that your unit doesn’t end up on Storage Wars!:)

If you know you are using a storage unit for temporary reasons, don’t sign a long term contract and be aware and notify your storage facility of your exit date (read the contract). Will you be getting rid of things all at once (book the mover early so you don’t back out!) or a little at a time? Have a plan to work through things that need to be sorted with a friend, family member or an organizer.